How to get Armenian citizenship?

Any person who has reached the age of 18 can declare a desire to become a citizen of Armenia. To begin with, we note that the citizenship of the Republic of Armenia can be obtained on a general basis and in a simplified manner.

• General order – obtaining the status of a resident of the Republic of Armenia for 1 year on the basis of employment or doing business in Armenia (IE, LLC) with a further extension of this status over the next 3 years. Then - passing an exam on knowledge of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian language;
• simplified procedure means that you do not need to wait 3 years to obtain RA citizenship.

There is no such condition in the legislation of Armenia. There is no need to renounce your current citizenship.

• Place of residence (general procedure);
• nationality (concerns ethnic Armenians);
• marriage;
• kinship: 1) if the foreigner has a child who is a citizen of the Republic of Armenia; 2) if at least one parent previously had citizenship or was born in the Republic of Armenia, then within three years after reaching the age of 18, you can apply for citizenship);
• already had Armenian citizenship (if you renounced the citizenship of the Republic of Armenia after January 1, 1995 on your own application);
• special grounds (in the presence of special merits to the state).

An ethnic Armenian is a person who has documented Armenian roots. For example, in the birth certificate, in the column “nationality of the father / mother”, “Armenian / Armenian” is indicated. In addition, obtaining the status of "ethnic Armenian" is possible if you prove the Armenian nationality of a close relative.

Along with the documents confirming the nationality, it is also necessary to provide a document confirming the relationship between the applicant and the Armenian. For example, your birth certificate and the birth certificate of a parent, if the nationality is proved through the nationality of the grandparents.

• Certificate (other document) of baptism issued by special institutions, which indicates that the baptized person or his parent is Armenian;
• a document that confirms the Armenian nationality, issued in a foreign state, certified by an apostille or by the consul of Armenia;
• birth certificate of family members (parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters) or other document that indicates nationality.

To obtain citizenship on this basis, the following conditions must be met:

• be in a registered marriage with an Armenian citizen for the last 2 years;
• live in Armenia for at least 365 days during the last 2 years or have a registration OR have a joint child of an RA citizen who is under 18 years old.

According to Art. 11 of the RA Law “On Citizenship of the Republic of Armenia”, a child, by the fact of being born in the territory of the country, can acquire Armenian citizenship in the following cases:

• if both parents are citizens of Armenia;
• if one of the parents is a citizen of Armenia, and the other is unknown or stateless;
• by agreement between the parents of the child, one of whom is a citizen of Armenia, and the other is a foreign citizen. A notarized consent of the foreign parent is required. If one of them is deprived of parental rights - a document confirming this fact.

If such an agreement between the parents is not reached, the child acquires citizenship if:

• was born in the territory of the Republic of Armenia;
• there is a risk that the child will be completely stateless;
• parents permanently live in Armenia.

Thus, in order to obtain Armenian citizenship by birth, one of the parents must have the status of a citizen of the Republic of Armenia.

If you are abroad, then it is possible to contact the consulate. To obtain citizenship in Armenia itself, you need to get to the passport and visa department by making an appointment or submitting an application through the website migration.e-gov.am. The procedure is as follows:

1. On the main page we find the section "services";
2. Choose Block "Citizenship";
3. Further on the choice: either consultation, or filing an application for admission or termination of citizenship, or issuing a passport from scratch;
4. Filling out an application indicating personal data and supporting documents.

All documents must be translated into Armenian and notarized.

In general order:

• an application for citizenship addressed to the President of the Republic of Armenia in Armenian (drawn up at the OVIR);
• application form in Armenian (can be completed online or by hand with a blue pen);
• passport of the state of which you are already a citizen + notarized translation into Armenian;
• 6 color photographs 3.5x4.5;
• birth certificate;
• certificate of marriage (dissolution), documents on changes in personal data (for example, full name).

In simplified order:

For all:

• an application for citizenship addressed to the President of the Republic of Armenia in Armenian (drawn up at the OVIR);
• application form in Armenian (can be completed online or by hand with a blue pen);
• passport of the state of which you are already a citizen;
• 6 color photographs 3.5x4.5;
• birth certificate;
• certificate of marriage (dissolution), documents on changes in personal data (for example, full name).

Based on nationality, one of the documents:

• documents that indicate the citizenship of parents / brother / sister / grandparents (+ copies may be needed);
• birth certificate indicating nationality;
• certificate of baptism in the Armenian church.

Based on marriage:

• marriage certificate;
• spouse's passport.

Based on birth:

• birth certificate of the child;
• passport of at least one of the parents who is already a citizen of Armenia.

Based on practice, we recommend making two copies of all documents, including notarized translations.

State. duty - 1000 AMD (payment on the spot).

90 business days. In case of applying for citizenship in Armenia, and not at the consulate, the applicant will receive a six-digit number to track the progress of the application online.

Yes, Armenian citizenship is a privilege. If state structures consider that you are a danger to the state, that you can harm public order, the life and health of other people, the security service may refuse to grant RA citizenship.

Foreigners and stateless persons with the following diseases are not allowed into the territory of Armenia:

1. Plague (pulmonary form).
2. Cholera.
3. Active tuberculosis of the respiratory organs.
4. tropical malaria.
5. atypical pneumonia.
6. Bird flu.
7. AIDS virus.
8. Viral hemorrhagic fever (Ebola, Marburg, Lass).
9. Middle East respiratory syndrome (coronavirus).

After signing the Decree of the President of the Republic of Armenia on granting citizenship of the Republic of Armenia, you can apply for a passport in OVIR. Both to apply and to obtain a passport, you need to register and book a queue online.

You can get a standard or biometric passport. However, until 2024, the issuance of biopassports is limited.